Missed the Bethlehem star? Fear not, there’s a repeat
STARGAZERS unlucky enough not to catch a glimpse of the “Star of Bethlehem” last night, may still be able to view the “once in a lifetime” event for days, astronomers have said.
The two largest planets in our solar system, Jupiter and Saturn, appeared closer together than at any time since the seventeenth century, in what is referred to as the “Great Conjunction”.
But rain and overcast weather across much of southern England obscured the spectacle for many. However, the Royal Astronomical Society said the two planets would move apart “very slowly” and would still be visible “unusually close together on the days that follow”.
The two planets were previously this close in 1623, but due to the sun obscuring the phenomenon it is believed the last time it was visible was in 1226. The
Vatican has said it believes a similar Great Conjunction may be one explanation for the Star of Bethlehem casting a bright light in the sky above the Holy Land and heralding the birth of Jesus.
Brother Guy Consolmagno SJ, planetary scientist and director of the Vatican Observatory, said in a BBC Sky at Night magazine virtual lecture: “This year is special because one of the more popular explanations for the star is a close conjunction of bright planets, and it is going to be visible to anybody with a clear sky.”
The RAS advises people to look low in the south-west after the sunset, where two bright points of light may appear. “Both planets are bright, so will be obvious in a clear sky. By 1700 GMT both planets will be less than 10 degrees above the horizon, so it is important to find a line of sight without tall buildings or trees that will block the view,” it said.